The Bridging the Gap panel has commissioned 7 filmmakers from across the UK to make short documentaries on the theme of Home. The new talent initiative is now in its 5th year and run by Scottish Documentary Institute based at Screen Academy Edinburgh College of Art and funded by Scottish Screen National Lottery and Skillset Film Skills Fund. This year's initiative attracted 110 applications from around the UK.
After an intense training period with filmmaker Marc Isaacs and Leena Pasanen (European Documentary Network) 12 participants were whittled down to 7 after a day long pitching session on 7 December. Each filmmaker receives a budget of £8,000 cash and £8,000 in kind. The panel noted the impressive performance of all 12 participants in presenting their project and after a difficult deliberation, selected the following projects.
Maria Eduarda Andrade, Calling Home
Producer: Marcelo Starobinas, London
Rowena Cohen, Corpsicles
Producer: Fulcrum TV, London
Lindsay Goodall, Irene
Producer: Kat Calton, 55 Degrees, Glasgow
Paul Gray, Finite Traces
Producer : Lili Sandelin, North Isle Productions & Douglas Dougan, Fluid Eye Productions, Edinburgh
Minttu Mantynen, Karelian Cowgirls
Producer: Leslie Hills Skyline Productions & Scott Ward, Pulkka, Edinburgh
Conor McCormack, Christmas with Dad
Producer: Sarah Tierney, Clarity Productions, Glasgow
Eva Weber, Steel Homes
Producer: TBC, London
The following filmmakers were also pitching and participating in the training:
Guy King, London: The Rig
Edson Costa, London: Fighting for a Home
Paul Ryan, Edinburgh: Bus Driver
Zed Nelson/Hannah Patterson, London: Shelter in Place
Tomas Sheridan, Edinburgh: Neverland
Delivery of the final projects will be in April 2008.